Improvement in locomotive-engines



M. M, n w 6;.6 mm

j 9M) J W v jz uen, for.

n esas/edf UNirnn STATES PATENT Ormea.

ROBERT FRANCIS FAIRLIE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCOMOTIVE-ENGINES.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FRANCIS FAIR- LIE, of London, England, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Locomotive-Engines; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a sideelevation of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Vertical sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of one-half and a top view ofthe other half of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to obtain a large amount of tractivepower and at the saine time to avoid any excessive pressure of thedriving-wheels of a locomotive, adapting itself readily to the turningof sharp curves without the disadvantages usually attending the actionof large locomotives under like circumstances. These objects areobtained by mounting the boiler on the center of two truckframes, eachhaving four or more wheels and one, two, or more cylinders, each truckand its adjunctst'ormingtwodistinctengines,which are each complete inthemselves, the steam being supplied from the boiler to both sets ot'engines. The boiler is thus mounted on a large number of wheels-say,eight for passen ger and express trains and twelve for heavygoodsengines-which are disposed in such a manner as to permit the enginerunning freely on the sharpest curves. The tire-box of the boiler is inthe middle, and from said tire-box extends the body of the boiler ineither direction, terminating at each end in a smoke or sub re box oriiue, and chimneys may be mounted on these smoke-boxes, as usual, or theboiler may be made with an upper and lower series ot' tubes with onesmoke-stack in the middle, so as to compel the products of combustion topass through the lower set of tubes and then back through the upper setto the smoke-stack.

A A is the tire-box, situated at mid-length of the locomotive. From thislire-box the body B B of the boiler extends in both directions, thewhole being riveted and put together in the ordinary manner. The lengthof each part of the body B or B may be about or nearly the length of anordinary boiler. The locomotive is therefore altogether of considerablelength. The lire-door is intended to be at the side ot' the lire-box,and there may be one on either side ofthe engine.

D D are smoke or combustion chambers at each end ofthe boiler for thereception of the products of combustion, and communicating with thefire-box A by means ot' tubes E, as in an ordinary engine. Thesechambers D may each be furnished with a chimney for the escape of smokeand of thc steam `from the blastpipes, as usual, but I prefer to employa set of return tubes, F, communica-ting With a smoke-chamber, G, abovethe lire-box, over which one central chimney is provided.

A platform, I l', is carried all round the boiler at the level of thelower part of its body, forming at the fire-box foot-plates l l', andsuitable railings may be provided as security for the engineer andstoker.

The bodies B B of the boiler are covered in and inclosed by a casingtitting somewhat closely to them and against the sides by vertical wallsor plates. The space inclosed by these walls, and between them and thebodies, may be utilized as coal-bunkers, as also the upper part of suchspace above the boiler. At one or at both ends of the locomotive someportion ot' this inclosed space may be utilized as a tank or tanks forthe supply of water. Thus it will be seen that the whole of the waterand fuel may be concentrated upon and carried by the locomotive itself.

N N are the bogie and engine frames, which are constructed totallydistinct from the boiler and connected thereto by the bogie or fulcrumpin P, but bearing otherwise thereon, as will be hereinafter explained.Each frame work is mounted on wheels and carries the steamcylinders andgear of the engine, somewhat as in ordinary locomotives, as also thebuffers and drag-chains and couplings at one end. The frames N N aremade with strong diagonal and cross ties or arms R R, which radiate fromthe center boss, T, ot' the bogie-pin P. On these arms quadrant-platesmay be formed, and these plates, together with the pin P, made tosustain the weight of the boiler. The ends of the frames N N' next thelire-box are in the segment of a circle described from the pin P, andabut closely on the nre-box without actually touching it, and a strong`iron frame, A', carried round the fire-box A, serves to steady thecircular ends of the frames N Nh The connection between the boiler andthe frames N N may, however, be eiected in a great many different ways,and I do not wish to conne myself to any particular method of attachingthe bogie-frames and the boiler together, although it must be remarkedthat the arrangement shown in the drawings is simple, cheap, anddurable, and may therefore be applied in preference to any other which Ican at present suggest. l

What I claim as my invention, and desire to ROBT. F. FAIRLIE.

Witnesses:

J AMES DARLING, ALBERT E. OVERELL.

